Second Day of Christmas

THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE SONG "THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"

In the last 20 or so years, there has been quite a bit of controversy over the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. Some say it was a cryptic catechism song, used by the persecuted Catholics of England as a means to teach their children some rudimentary teachings of the Faith under the disguise of a seemingly harmless song. Others contest this, by saying that there is no evidence to back-up this claim and say that the alleged points of doctrine to be found hidden in the song, are ... (click here to read more)

"...Two Turtle Doves"

Rock Dove

White Dove

Rock Dove

Ring-Necked Dove

Mourning Dove

Two Turtle Doves

Our Lord driving out the sellers and money-changers from the Temple.

BIRDS AGAIN!
Yes! Birds again! Yesterday a partridge, today turtle doves! I guess God wants us to fly high! High above the allurements of this world, and the dove is wonderful example of that, as we shall see.

Doves and pigeons, like pears and apples (see 1st Day of Christmas) belong to the same family. They are often mentioned in the Bible as if they are the same animal. In the Bible, the name “dove” is used for several species of wild pigeons in Palestine, including the ring-necked-dove, stock-dove, rock-dove, and turtle-dove. The rock-dove that is found in Palestine is the wild ancestor of our common street pigeon. The Bible speaks of the rock dove in the Canticle of Canticles: “My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, show me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears” (Canticles 2:14). Turtle-doves are migrants. They spend the months of April to October in the Holy Land, filling the air with soft cooing when they arrive each Spring: “For Winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land” (Canticles 2:11-12).

THE NUMBER TWO
The number "two" will obviously call to mind may "pairs" of religious things, here are just a few from many possibilities:
► The TWO Testaments of the Bible: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
► The TWO natures possessed by the God-man Jesus Christ in one person: His Divine nature and His human nature.
► The TWO Great Commandments: (1) to love God with our whole heart and soul, (2) to love our neighbor as ourselves.
► The TWO final destinations which will accommodate all human beings once they die: Heaven or Hell.
► The TWO fundamental means of gaining Heaven: Prayer and Penance.
► The TWO sacraments that we should be using regularly: Confession and Holy Communion.
► The TWO powers of the soul: the Intellect (Mind) and the Will (Heart), by which we know, love and serve God.
► The TWO fundamental commands given in Scripture: Do good and avoid evil.
► The TWO pillars of safety for the Church that St. John Bosco saw in a vision: the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady.
► The TWO means through which Our Lady promised to one day save the world: the Rosary and the Scapular.
► The TWO sources of knowing Divine Revelation: Tradition and the Bible.

MIGRANT BIRDS
The song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, refers to turtle-doves, the doves that are migrants. The symbolism therein is quite beautiful. The turtle-doves seek the warmth and flee the cold; the warmth is obviously a symbol of light and charity of God, whereas the cold winter they flee is a symbol of darkness and sin. The Infant-God would come as light and love into the darkness and sin of the world.

VARIOUS SHADES AND COLORS
Doves come in several colors, from pure white to the chestnut-colored palm turtle-dove. Even the plain gray pigeon has a silver sheen. Likewise souls come in different shades from pure white (Our Lord and Our Lady, both being immaculate), and then various shades of grey and brown—where the pure white of sinlessness is mixed with the blackness of sin to give various shades of sinfulness; from grayish tones of venial sin, to very dark tones of mortal sin).

SOARING ABOVE THIS WORLD
Doves, being birds of the air, soar above the world, teaching us rise above the things of this world; to fly away from them. Once again it is worth drumming in those words of St. Paul: “Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).

The things of the world just bring vexation and unrest! The further we remove ourselves from them, the more peace we find—and the dove is a symbol of peace: “And I said: ‘Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?’ ” (Psalm 54:7). “And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians” (Osee 11:11). Egypt and Assyria represent lands of sinfulness and the dove, the chosen symbol of the Holy Ghost, flees from sin as we should fly from sin: “What concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?”(2 Corinthians 6:15). “Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee. Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it” (Proverbs 4:14-15). “Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, you that dwell in Moab: and be ye like the dove that maketh her nest in the mouth of the hole in the highest place” (Jeremias 48:28).“And such of them as shall flee shall escape: and they shall be in the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them trembling, every one for his iniquity” (Ezechiel 7:16).

LOVE OF SECLUSION
To leave the city for some mountain hide-out means a life of seclusion. The turtle-doves are well-known for their love of seclusion, a fact mentioned by St. Augustine, which is symbol of separation from the world and its tumult and noise.“And shalt separate them from the midst of the children of Israel, to be mine” (Numbers 8:14). “Separate thyself from thy enemies” (Ecclesiasticus 6:13). “Know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Jesus, though He would go into the city to preach, would with draw to the hills and mountains to pray to His Father. “Jesus therefore, when He knew that they would come to take Him by force, and make Him king, fled again into the mountain Himself alone” (John 6:15).

THE DOVE SIGNIFYING THE HOLY GHOST
The turtle-dove represents the Holy Ghost speaking in both the Old and New Testaments. At the baptism of Jesus, God the Holy Ghost descends in the form of a dove, as we read in New Testament:

“And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to Him: and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him” (Matthew 3:16).

“Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And forthwith coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending, and remaining on Him” (Mark 1:9-10).

“And John gave testimony, saying: ‘I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from Heaven, and he remained upon Him’ ”(John 1:32).

It is the Holy Ghost Who speaks to us through the Old and New Testaments, because He is the ultimate Author of the Bible. The Spirit of God inspired the Prophets, Apostles, and Disciples of Jesus to write all that He wished to communicate to mankind.

THE DOVE AS A MESSENGER
In the Old Testament, we see the Dove as a messenger, being sent out many times by Noe from the Ark to see if the flood had ceased. Eventually the Dove brought back an olive branch, as a sign that the flood waters were falling. Noe had two doves in his ark that would bring him good news. The dove served to inform Noe whether the flood had subsided after being released from the ark: “And after that forty days were passed, Noe, opening the window of the ark which he had made, sent forth a raven: which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up upon the earth. He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth. But she, not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark. And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark. And she came to him in the evening, carrying a bough of an olive tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that the waters were ceased upon the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove, which returned not any more unto him” (Genesis 8:6-12).

THE INNOCENCE OF THE DOVE
The dove is also a common symbol of innocence: “Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Innocence hates sin and seeks to flee from it. David longed for"wings like a dove" (Psalm 55:6), so he could fly away from his enemies. The innocence of dove makes it an ideal victim for an acceptable sacrifice, just like the innocent Christ was the ideal sacrificial victim for the sins of the world.

THE DOVE AS A SACRIFICIAL BIRD
The dove is frequently mentioned in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) as a sacrificial bird, particularly as the offering of the poor and for purification from ritual uncleanness (Leviticus 1:14; 5:7, 11 f; 12:6, 8; 14:22, 30; 15:14, 29 ff). It is part of the offering of the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:10).

Hebrews ate pigeons and, from Abraham’s time, used them in sacrifice. The turtle-dove was also a bird of sacrifice, as we read in Holy Scripture: “Offer a sacrifice, as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves.” The Holy Ghost inspires sacrifice, just as He led Jesus into the desert for forty day and nights of penance, through fasting and prayer. Likewise the Holy Ghost led Jesus to His ultimate sacrifice on the Tree of the Cross, so that He would bear fruit for us.

Even a poor man could provide a pigeon or two for worship, as Joseph and Mary did at Jesus’ circumcision (Luke 2:21-24; Leviticus 12:8). The dove was a suitable sacrifice for poor people who could not afford a lamb (Leviticus 12:8), and Mary and Joseph offered two turtledoves at the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-24).

“And when the days of her purification are expired, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, a lamb of a year old for a holocaust, and a young pigeon or a turtle for sin, and shall deliver them to the priest: who shall offer them before the Lord, and shall pray for her, and so she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth a man child or a maid child. And if her hand find not sufficiency, and she is not able to offer a lamb, she shall take two turtles, or two young pigeons, one for a holocaust, and another for sin: and the priest shall pray for her, and so she shall be cleansed” (Leviticus 12:6-8).

“And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: as it is written in the law of the Lord: ‘Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons’ ” (Luke 2:22-24).

THE DOVE MISUSED
The selling of doves in the Temple courts for sacrifices was condemned by Jesus (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:14-17).

“Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the chairs of them that sold doves” (Matthew 21:12).

“He began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the chairs of them that sold doves” (Mark 11:15).

“And He found in the temple them that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. And when He had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, He drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of the changers He poured out, and the tables He overthrew. And to them that sold doves He said: ‘Take these things hence, and make not the house of My Father a house of traffic!’ And His disciples remembered, that it was written: ‘The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up’ ” (John 2:14-17).

You could say that the attitude of the sellers and money-changers did not quite dovetail with the spirit of religion that was required by their religion. Here the dove indirectly brings about the anger of God.

THE DOVE—A SYMBOL OF SPIRITUALITY
“I will meditate like a dove” (Isaias 38:14). “We shall lament as mournful doves” (Isaias 59:11). Here we easily link the dove to Our Lady: “But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19), and in her role as Mother of Sorrows, the Church places these words in her mouth: “O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow” (Lamentations 1:12).

THE FIDELITY OF THE DOVE
Turtle-doves have a reputation for taking only one mate to whom they are faithful for life, and so turtle-doves are a symbol of Christian fidelity. Our Lord demands this singular fidelity to one thing: “No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24).

DOVES ARE HEAVEN’S HOMING PIGEONS
Pigeons were probably the first domesticated bird. When people realized doves could travel long distances and always find their way home, they used them to carry messages. Homing pigeons have keen eyes with which they spot landmarks to help them stay on the right route. The Holy Ghost, the heavenly dove, is our guide to lead us to Heaven:“But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you” (John 14:26).

THE CHARITY OF THE DOVE
“God is Charity” (1 John 4:8) and the God the Holy Ghost chose the dove to represent himself in visible form. Jesus also told us to “love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Doves appear to express affection, stroking each other, and billing and cooing. They only have one mate for life, with whom they share nesting and parenting duties.

The frequency of the dove in the image of Canticle of Canticles shows that the dove was a symbol of love as it is in modern poetry. The beloved is addressed as "my dove" (Canticles 2:14, an allusion to the rock dove; 5:2; 6:9). Israel is called Yahweh's dove (Psalm 74:19). The eyes of the beloved are doves (Canticles 1:15; 4:1; 5:12). These would be innocent eyes and charitable eyes—much as we see in the sparkling innocent, happy eyes of an infant or a very young child.

THE MEEKNESS AND HUMILTY OF THE DOVE
They are gentle birds that never resist attack or retaliate against their enemies—just as Jesus was in face of His enemies. Even when her young are attacked, a dove will give only a pitiful call of distress. “He was offered because it was His own will, and He opened not His mouth: He shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before His shearer, and He shall not open His mouth” (Isaias 53:7).

THE SIMPLICITY AND GUILELESSNESS OF THE DOVE
Because of its innocence and gentle nature, the dove is a common religious symbol. Our Lord mentions the simplicity of the dove, saying: “Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

THE BEAUTY OF THE DOVE
Solomon waxed poetic over doves' eyes. “Behold thou art fair, O my love, behold thou art fair, thy eyes are as those of doves” (Canticles 1:14). “Thy eyes are doves' eyes” (Canticles 4:1). “His eyes as doves” (Canticles 5:12). “Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come” (Canticles 2:10).

THE DOVE AS A SIGN OF PEACE
“And she [the dove] came to him [Noe] in the evening, carrying a bough of an olive tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that the waters were ceased upon the earth” (Genesis 8:11). The punishment of God was over; peace would reign in what was left of the world. The message conveyed by the olive branch has ever since been coined as a phrase meaning the establishing of peace among enemies: “he offered him an olive branch” meaning peace was being offered.

“On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, two turtle doves…” As you can see, there is more to the dove than first meets the eye!

May you continue to battle the world in your search for a truly spiritual Christmas! A merry, but holy, Christmas to you all!